High-Level Thematic Policy Engagement: Positioning Services as a Pathway to Structural Transformation in LDCs
This event will explore the growing role of services as a driver of structural transformation in least developed countries (LDCs). While development pathways have traditionally relied on industrialization, the UNCTAD Least Developed Countries Report 2025 highlights a shift, with services—such as ICT, finance, tourism, and transport—emerging as key contributors to economic diversification, productivity, and trade. However, LDCs continue to face structural constraints, including limited productive capacity, infrastructure gaps, and low participation in digital services trade.
The event aims to present the report’s findings and foster dialogue on how trade in services can support sustainable development. It will examine opportunities and challenges in leveraging services for economic transformation, and discuss policy, regulatory, and institutional frameworks required to unlock their potential. The engagement will also help identify actionable priorities and strengthen partnerships to support services-led development strategies.
Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding among stakeholders, concrete policy recommendations tailored to LDC contexts, stronger collaboration across partners, and greater integration of services into national and regional development strategies.
The event will bring together policymakers, representatives of regional economic communities, international organizations, private sector actors, academia, and civil society, in a hybrid format to enable broad participation.
